Paying for daycare on public holidays ?

[peanutter]

Do you have to pay for daycare on public holidays ??

I just don't get it.

We have two children who go in one day a week.

We can't swap the day (other days are full) so we just get to spend $200 odd for the boys to *not* get to go to daycare ... ?

Is that normal?

[veus]

Yeah I hafta pay for public holidays too. Apparently that's why Mondays aren't so popular.

[Joeve]

I don't use childcare yet but around here that's what happens. I guess they figure you have to pay for their staff to have the paid day off!

[black_rose]

It's normal but unfair when the centre is closed! At our last centre we paid half a day rate for public holidays for the last year we were there, back to paying full rates again now but have swapped days so it rarely affects us now.

[Rowellen]

Yep we pay for them too. I agree it's unfair when the centres closed. I would rather pay a little extra everyday than pay for a day I don't use. By my calculation, it would be about $3 a day extra.

[MummyNaomi]

Yep normal here. They still have to pay the staff so the costs for the day at the same. I dont mind as luckily for us one of us usually has the day off to be with the kids anyhoo

We dont however have to pay for the two weeks over Christmas/NY that the centre is closed - which is nice, a bit more money in our pockets at Christmas time

[peanutter]

I would understand more if you were there full time, but when I only have them in for one day, it's really unfair.

For us, we're paying our *whole week* of daycare when we have absolutely no ability to use it.

So DH won't get his uni work and the shopping done, I'll probably have to work anyway, and we're still out of pocket ...

[wysiwyg]

Yeah I hafta pay for public holidays too. Apparently that's why Mondays aren't so popular.

Yes is true that is one reason people say Mondays arent so popular but on other hand if you have permanent position and paid public holidays if you work part time you may want Mondays as more days off. My two have always gone Mondays for one of their days as easier day to get - I don't get paid public holidays so is double whammy. Since I have gone back to work in Feb we have had four public holidays if you count this Thurs and have been hit for three of them so that is around 530 dollars - and another coming up in June!

I understand why have to pay though, the centers have to pay their staff.

[feeb]

Yep thats it and it sucks but its the way it is! The last 2 years my 2 went on ONLY mondays so off course we had majority of the public holidays. This year boys are in Monday and Friday. We pay $97 per child per day even when public holiday!!

It has always annoyed me but what can you do.

[Miss.B]

Yes it sucks, I have to pay for public holidays, but we've now got him going on a Wednesday as apparently most PH fall on Mondays or Fridays????

[nickle730]

Yep, I'll be paying for ANZAC day although the centre is closed. I still have to go to work, but luckily DH will be home to care for the kids.

[peanutter]

I understand why have to pay though, the centers have to pay their staff.

In principle I get this, but everyone else seems to manage ... I can't think of any other places that doesn't build it into the general cost...? eg: hotels don't kick guests out on public holidays and charge for the room anyway ... The cost of paying the wages, utilities etc are absorbed into the running costs, and the expenses that don't get used those days (supplies, nappies, food, etc) aren't accounted for.

Anyway, question asked and answered. It looks like it's a standard (albeit highly frustrating) reality of daycare.

[Kazzo]

I am lucky that my girls go to a flexible centre that will allow make up days or swap days but I agree peanutter that they should be wearing the cost of paying staff.

[AnyDream]

I pay but I think it's wrong. Every other business has to wear the costs of closing, I don't understand why childcare centers (many of which are profit-driven) can still charge without providing a service. It's not like they don't know several years in advance when the public holidays are. They should be able to smoothe out their expenses, pay their staff and not charge parents who may not themselves be getting paid on the public holidays.

[FabFiona]

It sucks. My old centre had a good way of managing it though. We would get am extra make up day to use whenever. I didn't mind paying then.

[Taurean]

It does suck, DD1's preschool (3-4yr olds only run from 8am-4pm) charge regardless too. DD goes on Monday and Friday Thankfully they allow makeup classes when there is room on another day. So far DD has managed to get a makeup class for all of the public holidays It's our personal holidays and the random sick days that have bothered me but that's how they roll, hey.

[Artechim]

That is one of the silliest things I have ever heard! How can they close for the day and still charge you for their services?! No one else can get away with that.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

We get half fees charged. Better than nothing I suppose. I too think its pretty unfair. Seems they can do whatever they want !